RENAULT 12 (R12) BREAK - 1972 For Sale

A first-generation RENAULT 12 estate car, a real rarity! On the road, it attracts astonishment and sympathy! History With the R8, Renault offered an excellent product for the middle class in the early 1960s. So it was all the more important for the French manufacturer to make the successor model as robust and comfortable as possible. As early as 1964, the first prototypes appeared, but with a different design to the later production cars. They were fitted with three asymmetrical headlights on each side and a spare wheel on the boot lid. Underneath the bodywork, the new front-wheel-drive chassis and engine were already positioned above the front axle. In addition, Renault's management had determined that the new car, Project 117, should have a suspension that would perform well even on the most difficult roads in Africa. In terms of size, it was to fill the gap between the R6 and the R16, while replacing not only the R8, but also the R10. At the 1969 Paris Motor Show, the time had finally come to present the new car. Immediately after the official presentation, the first orders for the new Renault 12 were taken. Shortly after the Motor Show, the first examples of the saloon were presented to customers and dealers. It was equipped with a 1. 3-litre four-cylinder engine developing 40 kW/ 54 bhp, disc brakes at the front and drum brakes at the rear, and offered a boot capacity of 415 litres. For the first nine months or so, this variant was the only one available, followed by the five-seater estate (called 'Variable' in Germany or 'Break' in France). In addition to the base version, the L and TL versions were also available. Despite the limited choice, production capacity had to be increased to 700 vehicles a day in the first half of the year to meet demand. In the summer of 1975, a major redesign was carried out, removing the Gordini from the range, while the other versions received new bumpers and lights. Inside, with the exception of the R12 L, all variants received a new dashboard. The abbreviation TR was removed from the automatic version, which is now simply called the R12 Automatic. For the basic L and TL versions, power was reduced to 37 kW/ 50 bhp. As well as production in France, where around 4. 01 million examples were produced until 1980, Renault also produced the 12 in Australia, Brazil, Turkey and Romania. At the latter plant, the car was produced under the Dacia name until 2004, totalling almost two million units. Despite this high production volume, the Renault 12 is very rare on the roads today, at least in Germany. That's a shame, because its sturdiness is still palpable in many African countries. Description We are offering for sale this magnificent RENAULT 12 BREAK in a white livery with a black imitation interior. The car dates from 1972, one year after the official launch of this version. Featuring the new landscape headlights from the Renault 16, the Renault 12 Break is a simple car with plenty of room for a family and a spacious boot. Inside, the car featured only a ventilation system and a simple three-dial instrument cluster. Depending on the trim level, it was available with or without armrests for rear passengers. The independent front suspension and rigid rear axle offered the right balance between price and comfort. Equipped with a folding rear bench seat to form a berth or increase the load volume, a fabric lining on the boot, a heated rear window, a tow bar and a black imitation interior, this was a well-equipped RENAULT 12 estate for its time. MECHANICS The engine is in excellent condition and starts immediately. The engine compartment has received the utmost care, and the peripherals are all recent and operational. The car has a 4-speed gearbox with a floor-mounted lever. Shifting gears is effortless. The selector ball joints, the gearbox tail gasket and the selector itself have all been changed, as has the bellows. The ignition is new, as is the fuel pump, the steering flector has been changed for a reinforced one, the carburettor has been rebuilt, it's a Weber 32 DIR, and the battery is new. The brakes have been overhauled, with the master cylinder, hoses, wheel cylinders and handbrake cables replaced. The brake callipers have been fitted with a repair kit, and the brake discs and pads have been changed. INTERIOR The interior is clean, with seats, door panels and floor mats all in good condition. The dashboard is original with its round meters, the...